When I broke my ankle last year I found that my city has a temporary disability assistance program thru the social services dept. It wasn't much $ but helped with rent for 2 months while I healed. Maybe check if your area has something similar? Just google "[your county] emergency assistance program" or call 211.

I'm sorry to hear about your accident and the difficult situation you're in. Since you've already confirmed you don't qualify for UI or SDI, here are a few additional resources that might help bridge the gap while you recover: 1. Check if either of your delivery apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc.) have any emergency assistance programs for drivers - some companies started offering these during COVID 2. Look into your county's General Relief/General Assistance program - it's designed for people who don't qualify for other benefits 3. Contact The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, or other local faith-based organizations - they often have emergency rent assistance funds 4. If you have a credit union account, many offer emergency hardship loans with low interest rates Also, once you're healed, consider enrolling in DIEC (Disability Insurance Elective Coverage) for future protection - it's only about 1% of your income but could save you in situations like this. Hope your wrist heals quickly!

Another RIDICULOUS thing they do is verify with your employer, who has a FINANCIAL INCENTIVE to deny your claim! If your employer says anything that doesn't perfectly match your statement, EDD will side with them. Make sure every date and dollar amount you provide EXACTLY matches your documentation!

I went through something similar last year and it turned out EDD needed to verify my wages through their system called the "Base Period Employer Account Cross-match" or something like that. Basically, your employer reports wages quarterly to the state, and if there's ANY discrepancy between what you claim and what they have on file, they flag it for manual review. In my case, my employer had reported my wages under a slightly different name (they had my middle initial wrong) so the system couldn't match them automatically. Try asking EDD specifically if your wages are showing up in their system and if there are any matching issues with your employer's quarterly reports.

Update: Got my decision in the mail today! That's 13 days after the hearing. The judge ruled in my favor and found that I had correctly reported all my income! They're cancelling the overpayment and will refund the money they've been deducting from my payments. So relieved this nightmare is over. Thanks everyone for your help and support!

Congratulations Nia! That's such fantastic news! 🎉 It's so encouraging to see someone win their appeal, especially when they clearly had their documentation together like you did. Your timeline of 13 days is really helpful for others going through this process too. Definitely keep multiple copies of that decision letter - scan it and save digital copies just in case. Hope the refund process goes smoothly and you can finally breathe easy knowing this is behind you!

Hey OP! It sounds like you're dealing with a very common EDD issue. Here’s a comprehensive approach: You should try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) as a quick alternative for reaching EDD. While it is a paid service, many people have found it to be a time-saver. However, consider it as just one part of your strategy. Always start with the online portal and the 'Contact Us' forms as an initial step. Certified mail remains a reliable option even if it takes longer. Document all interactions and attempts as they are crucial if you need to escalate the issue to higher authorities like your local government officials. Remember, persistency is key. Keep your information secure and protect your personal data no matter which method you choose. Good luck!

I went through this exact same nightmare a few months ago! Here's what finally worked for me: I had to call EDD multiple times (like 15+ attempts) but eventually got through to someone who could update my email on the spot. The key is calling right at 8am when they open - set multiple alarms and start dialing exactly at 8:00. Also, make sure you have your Social Security number, claim number, and the new email address ready to go. The whole call took maybe 10 minutes once I actually got through to a person. Don't give up - it's frustrating but definitely solvable!

Glad you got it sorted! Just a heads-up that it might take one payment cycle for the change to take effect, so keep an eye on your next payment to make sure it goes through correctly.

Just want to add another option for anyone still stuck with Money Network - you can also get cash back at most grocery stores and pharmacies when you make a purchase with the card. I usually buy something small like gum or a drink and get $20-40 cash back with no fees. Then I can deposit the cash into my regular bank account. It's not as convenient as direct transfer but way better than paying $25!